Improvement in wheel for vehicles



R. 1. BOWMAN.

'Vehicle Wheel.

Patented Octl 20, 1868.

nf: l.' l 114510.15.:

N. ELTERS. PhanLhhmgmpher1 Washington D4 CA Massese-w- @gr/f 4R'.J..BOW1VI.A'N,Oli" MANSFIELD, LOUISIANA.

` Letters Patent o. 83,245, dated October 20, 1868. y

IMPROVEMENT IN WHEEL FDR VEHICLES.

The Schedule referred -to in these Letters Patent. and' making part of the same.

To all wlwma't ma/y concern:

Be it known thatI, It. J BowMAN, of Mansfield, in the parish of De Soto, and State of Louisiana, have invented a new'and useful Improvement in Wheels for Vehicles; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionl thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make. and use 'the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in the construction of metallic wheels for vehicles, whereby strength and lightness are obtained, with a requisite amount of elasticity to avoid the transmission of jars and concussions to' the body ofthe vehicle,

and the consequent wear and tear attending the same.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings- Figure 1 is a side View of a portion of my invention partly in section. A Figure 2,4 a section of the same taken on the line x a, iig. 1. y

Figure 3, a perspective view of a portion of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the rim of the wheel, which rim is a tube. composed of twoparts, one part having parallel sides, a a, and aV-shaped inner side, b, as shown clearly in iig. 3. The other part of the lim is composed of two parallel sides, c c, and an outer side, (l, at right angles with c c, the latter part being fitted over the former part, as will belfunderstoo'd by referring to iig. 3.

These two parts of the iim may be formed by rolling, pressing, swaging, or in-any proper way, and each part may be composed of one or more pieces. Ii each part be composed of a plurality of pieces, the pieces of the two parts should be so arranged or disposed as to break joints, as it is technically termed.

The rim is covered with a tire, B, which is secured to the outer partgf the lrim by bolts dx, which' also secure the outer ends of the spokes C to the rim A.

These spokes are composed ofv dat metal plates, slightly tapering in width from their inner `to Atheir outer ends. The outer parts 'of the spokes'being bent over 'at right angles with their main portion, as shown vat e, and au angle-plate, f, being placed' against tlie side of each spoke,op'posite to the side where the bent part c is formed, the plates f being riveted tothe spokes. The plates f and bent parts c of the spokes are placed against metal blocks, g, the outer surfacesl of whichA are formed with V-shaped concaves, 7L, as shown in g. 2, to receive the v -shaped inner surface b of.the inner part of therim, and the bolts 'dX pass through the tire B, and the two parts of the rim ,A, and the part-s c f of the spokes 0,',securing all Asaid partsIto-i gether, as will be fully understood by referring to iig. 1. I" The inner ends of the spokes O are secured in aring,

.D, of metal, having dovetail slots cut 'radially in it,

and the inner ends'of the spokes made in dovetail-form to fit into the slots, or radial slots may 15e-'made in the ring, with a round hole or chamber, hX, at their inner ends, to receive a cylindrical key, t', formed on the inner ends of the spokes, as shown in iig. l. This latter plan I consider preferable.

Within this ring, D, the box E of the hub is fitted, said box having a shoulder, j, near one end, to bear against the ring D, a collar, k, which is fitted von the box, bearing against a washer, l, at the opposite side of the ring,` the ring and inner ends of the `spokes being firmly clamped between the shoulder and collar or washer, by screwing up the collar, which works on a screw, an, on the box. (See iig. 2.) i

The sides of the ring D are made slightly tapering,

corresponding to the taper of the spokes, and the face- `extremely strong, light, and durable, and will also possess sufficient elasticity to prevent the transmission of jars or concussions'to the `body of the vehicle, thereby preventing much wear and tear.

The V-shaped inner side b of the rim admits of mud easily slipping off om it. A

The great objection to wheels, made exclusively of metal, consisted hitherto in their rigidity or unyieldv ing property, there being no give to them. The axles would soon become worn, and the whole vehicle injured by being racked and strained. They were also heavy, and expensive to manufacture.

These' objections, it is believed, are fully obviated by my invention.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire t secure by Let ters Patent, is

l. The tubular rim A, composed of two parts, constructed and iitted together in the manner substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

2. The Hat spokes C, secured to the hollow rim A by means of the bent ends e, angle-plates f, bolts dx, and grooved blocks g, and to the hub-ring D by means of the cylindrical keys i and chambers hX, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The'combination of the rim A, tire B, spokes 0,*

and the hub, composed of the ring D, and box E, all constructed andar-ranged substantially as and for the purpose specified. v l Y Witnessesz R. J. BOWMAN.

G. W. GRAHAM, C. R. OOLLrNs. 

